Ugandan Lawmakers Seek Nigeria’s Expertise on Sustainable Borrowing, Public Funds

Members of Uganda’s Parliamentary Committee on National Economy have journeyed to Nigeria to enhance their skills in scrutinizing government borrowing, loan guarantees, and public expenditure. The delegation conveyed Nigeria's democratic practices as a beneficial learning opportunity for African nations during their arrival in Abuja on Monday, marking the commencement of a five-day training and induction workshop, organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

Hon. Avur Jane Pacuto, the leader of the Ugandan delegation, emphasized the value of drawing lessons from neighboring countries, specifically Nigeria, given its evolving democratic status. The delegation's primary focus is to learn how to responsibly manage borrowed funds and ensure their beneficial deployment to the citizens. Pacuto also highlighted the importance of learning about sustainable borrowing amid global economic fluctuations, particularly changes in exchange rates.

The delegation aims to gain insights into Nigeria’s economic management and institutional practices during this visit. Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, the Director-General of NILDS, underscored the significance of effective parliamentary performance, transcending beyond lawmaking to encompass rigorous oversight, public finance scrutiny, and accountability in national resource management.

He highlighted Uganda’s projected growth rate of 6.5–7% in 2026 while cautioning that such expansion alone cannot assure inclusive and sustainable development. He identified sound public financial management, fiscal discipline, debt sustainability, efficient public expenditure, and productive investments as crucial factors enabling economic growth to translate into enhanced welfare for citizens.

Sulaiman urged lawmakers to scrutinize loan proposals, examining purposes, costs, expected returns, and sustainability of government borrowing. He stressed that parliamentary oversight should be evidence-driven, avoiding automatic opposition or uncritical approval of government proposals. The NILDS director emphasized the need for continuous capacity development in light of evolving global conditions such as geopolitical tensions, trade patterns, technological disruption, climate vulnerabilities, commodity price fluctuations, and international financial conditions.

The delegation's participation is not their first time participating in NILDS programs, and they expressed interest in learning about Nigeria's cultural diversity and other areas of institutional experience.